Effectiveness of Adding Zinc to the Current Case Management Package of Diarrhea in a Primary Health Care Setting

This study has been completed.

Sponsor:

Society for Applied Studies

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:

NCT00278681

First Posted: January 18, 2006

Last Update Posted: July 2, 2008

The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government.
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Use of zinc in diarrhea may be an effective intervention to reduce hospitalizations and child mortality as it could reach the most vulnerable children in a community and reduce severity of not only diarrhea but also of associated infections. It might also potentially reduce antibiotic use.

We conducted a pilot study prior to conducting a community based controlled effectiveness trial to assess whether addition of zinc as a therapeutic modality for diarrhea delivered through existing channels, reduces visits to health care providers, antibiotic and other drug use, and increases ORS use during diarrhea.

One strip containing 14 dispersible zinc tablets (20 mg each) along with 2 ORS packets were prescribed to all children aged 1 month to 5 years visiting that channel with diarrhea.

Infants aged less than 6 months were advised half a zinc tablet in a teaspoonful of breast milk; older children were advised 1 tablet in breast milk or clean water.

Detailed Description:

The pilot study was conducted in a primary health centre (population ~33000) in Faridabad district of the state of Haryana in India. Formative research identified perceptions of caregivers regarding childhood diarrhea, causation and management, care seeking sources and caregivers expectations from healthcare providers. Caregivers in households with children under 5 years old were interviewed in a cross sectional survey to ascertain family characteristics, ORS prescription and use rates, drug prescription rates by healthcare providers and other variables of interest.

In partnership with the local government, channels for distribution of zinc and ORS packets were defined. The channels included physicians (at PHC and private practitioners), auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs) and Anganwadi workers (AWWs)of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme. Recommendations were developed and translated into local vernacular. A poster, which incorporated the recommendations and pictures of zinc strip and ORS packets, was designed. These posters were put up at different places in the study area. All channels were trained and provided with the supplies of zinc strips and ORS packets except the private practitioners who received only zinc strips and advised caregivers to take ORS packets from government channels. Effectiveness of this pilot program was assessed through 2 cross sectional surveys, 3 and 6 months post training.

The cross sectional surveys revealed that the prescription of syrups, tablets, powders and injections during diarrhea and cost of treatment decreased significantly. Prescription and use of ORS increased markedly. Zinc tablets were prescribed and used in about half the episodes 6 months after start of intervention. It was feasible to train various government and community channels to promote zinc as treatment of acute diarrhea through the primary health care system.

Eligibility

Information from the National Library of Medicine

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Ages Eligible for Study:

1 Month to 5 Years (Child)

Sexes Eligible for Study:

All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Children aged 1 month to 5 years with diarrhea

Exclusion Criteria:

Illness requiring hospitalization (referral)

Contacts and Locations

Information from the National Library of Medicine

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT00278681